The words written on the papyrus left Lord Caelum frozen in astonishment. This was something his sharply defined, weathered face had never been accustomed to. "How could there be unrest in the southern mines? I had intensified inspections there with King Leonidas. Perhaps I should inform Majesty Kalen," he muttered in a low voice, as if unsure of his own thoughts.
At that moment, Kalen, holding the book, had fallen into deep contemplation. "There's something terribly wrong with this book," he murmured, his gaze fixed on the old, worn cover. "It seems worn and simple on the outside, but the more I look at it, the more I want to touch it... It's as though something is pulling me into it."
"Kale—"
Suddenly, the book fell silent. For a moment, the air in the room seemed to grow heavier, as if it too was caught in the weight of some unseen force. Kalen faced the strange silence emanating from the book, his mind filled with thousands of questions echoing, unanswered and growing.
Then, the heavy doors of the archive slowly opened, breaking the silence that had filled the room. A deep baritone voice echoed:
"Majesty, I need to speak with you about something urgent."
Kalen, recognizing the voice, turned his head slightly. "What is it, Lord Caelum? I was occupied with something important," he said, his voice cold, but a hint of unease and tension lingered within each word.
"Apologies for the disturbance, Majesty," Caelum replied, his voice respectful but tinged with an urgency that could not be concealed. "We received an important papyrus from the southern mines... It contains a crucial message. I must present it to you immediately."
Kalen, reluctant to tear his focus away from the book, turned back to it. He carefully took it from the shelf, his fingers lightly gripping the old binding, his eyes drawn to the strange patterns that adorned the cover. "I must be cautious in examining this book," he murmured, his tone more to himself than to anyone else.
"Majesty," Caelum asked, his voice filled with curiosity, yet uncertainty, "What is the purpose of this book?"
Kalen paused for a moment, his gaze lost somewhere far beyond the present. His voice, when he finally spoke, regained its usual calm, commanding tone. "Lord Caelum, this book is important for my research. However, I will put my research aside for now. Let's proceed to the throne room."
Caelum nodded but added without hesitation, "Majesty, we should also discuss this matter with Strategist Drarn Log. His insights could guide us."
Kalen acknowledged Lord Caelum's suggestion with a brief nod. As they both left the room, their steps heavy and measured, the darkness of the archive was once again enveloped in a profound silence.
As they walked through the palace's dim corridors, Kalen felt a growing sense of unease within him. The strange pull of the book seemed to persist, as though the weight of an unseen force was bearing down on him. It was not just a curiosity; it was something deeper, something that demanded his attention. This sensation, foreign to him, was intensifying with each passing moment.
Caelum, walking beside him, could not shake off his own discomfort. Every step seemed to add to the unease within him. Though the urgent news from the southern mines weighed heavily on his mind, it was the book that seemed to haunt him, drawing both him and Kalen into its web of mystery. It was not just an object of study; it had become a symbol of something darker, something foreboding.
Upon entering the throne room, the atmosphere changed abruptly. The high doors seemed to open not just to the room, but to an entire realm of possibilities and dangers. The room was not merely a space, but a manifestation of the kingdom's weight, its history, and its uncertain future. Every corner seemed to carry a whisper of the past, a threat that loomed from every shadow.
"Majesty, this could change everything," Caelum whispered, his voice no longer able to conceal his anxiety.
Kalen gave a slight nod, his eyes distant, but a sense of weariness and resignation weighed heavily on him. He could feel it — this was only the beginning. But it was a beginning that could alter everything. The weight of the kingdom, the future, and the lives of its people rested on decisions yet to be made. And Kalen, despite the clarity of his thoughts, could not escape the unsettling feeling that he was stepping into a darkness that had no end.
"Place the papyrus on the table," Kalen said, as they entered the room, his voice calm yet tinged with a quiet authority. "We will examine everything in order, but first, there are other matters to attend to."
Caelum placed the papyrus gently on the table, his gaze lingering around the room, as if searching for something he couldn't quite find. Kalen, turning his attention back to the book, felt a surge of tension in the air. Everything was aligning, but the path ahead was far from clear. The kingdom's future, the strategy to be devised, and the secrets held within that book — they would all intertwine here, in this room. And yet, the more Kalen stared into the book, the more it seemed to elude him, drawing him into a mystery he could not unravel.